Posts tagged ‘Baby’

Every parent worries about the risks of ill health to their unborn or newly born child. In fact, at 35 years old I’m pretty convinced that my parents still worry about my health and now of the health of their grandchildren. My GP informs me new mothers make up the bulk of their emergency appointments due to their child just not being quite right or being off some how. Rightly so, the new mothers seek medical advice to put their worried minds at ease.

Since the boys were born at 25 weeks gestation I have had my own and very personal set of worries on my mind. It started with the immediate health worries. First and foremost with Lewis and/or Logan survive the next hour,day or night. This happened on so many different occasions whilst in the NICU it almost seemed to become the norm. When we got home from the NICU the boys were still oxygen dependant and remained that way through out the winter months fighting off the usual winter bugs such as chest infections and the Noro virus, however, with possible deadly consequences for my boys.

As the boys have went from physical strength to strength there has always been this niggling worry that their neurodevelopment May be delayed or indeed impaired. As science has progressed, the survival rates for premature babies has dramatically increased especially among the smallest and sickest babies. Studies show that when survivors of Prematurity reach school age they are 50% more likely to exhibit signs of significant higher order neurodevelopmental impairment. This includes difficulties in learning, behaviour and executive functioning often requiring additional needs and special education support. Recent reports go on to suggest that this increase in atypical socio-behavioural functioning in the premature survivors population is strongly suggestive of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).

According to the NHS website Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a range of similar conditions, including Asperger syndrome, that affect a person’s social interaction, communication, interests and behaviour. In children with ASD, the symptoms are present before three years of age, although a diagnosis can sometimes be made after the age of three. It’s estimated that about 1 in every 100 people in the UK has ASD. More boys are diagnosed with the condition than girls.

There’s no “cure” for ASD, but speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, educational support, plus a number of other interventions are available to help children and parents.

Some children with ASD need to stick with routine as even the tiniest of changes can trigger tantrums, some children may engage in repetitive activity such as turning light switches on and off or neatly lining up their toys. A massive worry I have personally is even though the professionals are concentrating on Logan as they believe he has ASD Lewis also exhibits these symptoms as well. Many children with ASD also can go on to be diagnosed with ADHD or Sensory Perception Disorders.

The reason, I have found in articles that links ASD and Prematurity so strongly is that the brain develops best in the womb. When the child is born extremely early such as before 28 weeks the brain development is altered and almost wired differently to that of a full term child. This is due to the child being exposed to so many stressors during a critical stage of development. Researchers go on to explain that although ASD is not a curable condition early intervention with speech therapy, OT and behavioural/education support we can help our children move more into the mainstream of society.

Early signs of autism to look out for in babies and toddlers are:

If your baby or toddler doesn’t:

• Make eye contact, such as looking at you when being fed or smiling when being smiled at

• Respond to his or her name, or to the sound of a familiar voice

• Follow objects visually or follow your gesture when you point things out

• Point or wave goodbye, or use other gestures to communicate

• Make noises to get your attention

• Initiate or respond to cuddling or reach out to be picked up

• Imitate your movements and facial expressions

• Play with other people or share interest and enjoyment

• Notice or care if you hurt yourself or experience discomfort

I’m sure this is a topic I will go to familiarise myself with and write more about. However, if anything I have written has struck a chord with you in regards to your own child then I would advise contacting your GP or health visitor. Whilst it is important to remember all of our children develop at different rates so some children may take longer to sit up unaided walk, talk or meet their developmental milestones I have found parental instinct can also be key. You know your own child and if you feel that there is a possibility that the delays your child are experiencing aren’t normal then it is best to seek medical help and take it from there.

I hope and pray that my children grow up to be healthy and happy individuals. We will deal with whatever the universe throws at us. The only one thing I know for sure is that I love my children more than anything in the world and no diagnoses of ASD or similar conditions will ever change that. The research does show that there is a massively increased risk of ASD among pre-term children. But that is all it is. It is not a definite diagnosis, it is a risk. At the end of the day our preemies are warriors and they will continue to beat all odds and surprise us at every step of the way. Nothing will change that. Just as nothing will stop us as parents fighting for our children and loving them unconditionally.

Stay cool.

Scottish Twin Mamma

Xx

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I appear to be known in my friendship circle as the crazy cat 🐈 lady. I hold this title proud and Love all animals big and small. I did have 4 gorgeous Cats however, this weekend saw the unexpected death of one of my fur babies. I rescued him and his litter brother when they were 6 weeks old and loved them very much. All my kitty cats are rescues. Sadly, Paddy passed away from a suspected stroke and joined max his litter brother at the rainbow bridge. I was devastated and even tried mouth to mouth but to no avail. Now, some people may wonder why the death of ‘Just a cat’ could cause so much upset and heartbreak when there are so many different bad things happening in the world at this very moment. Or even when I have been there beside Lewis and Logan when they have been very near death, why would the death of an animal upset me so much. Well I shall tell you.

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Paddy & Max

Even as a child I loved our furry friends. My mother always told me to never trust anyone who didn’t like animals as it spoke a lot to their character. As I grew up I adjusted this slightly as there are many people who do not like animals but would never wish them harm. So as long as you couldn’t hurt an innocent animal then I could trust you.

My fur babies have always been seen as and treated as members of our family. We tried for 10 years to have children and through every failed attempt of IUI, IVF or every month when that pregnancy test said negative I had my fur babies to comfort me. They could always tell if I was sad. Paddy would come and give me a head bop settle on my lap and purr away even if his fur was damp with my tears he would never leave my side. When we were lucky enough to become pregnant, Paddy seemed to instinctively know and would cuddle in on my tum. The first Time I felt the boys kick it was were Paddy was lying on top of me and he obviously felt something too as he looked at me like ‘what the hell was that? ‘

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The amount of people who expected me to re-home my cats when I was pregnant astonished me and I soon discovered many people have a fear of pets especially cats with young infants. When the boys arrived 15 weeks early then even more people approached me and said ‘so who will take the Cats for you when the boys come home?’ The look of disgust I would get is unexplainable.

Preemies are at higher risk of having respiratory issues such as chronic lung disease or asthma. Both of which my boys have. The negative comments I received after explaining I has no intention of re-homing any of my pets included, you will give the boys a higher chance of allergies, do you want your children to have asthma? I had already done some research into this area and found that by having a pet in the home I was likely to reduce the boys risk of developing a pet allergy as they will have been exposed to the proteins that are found in the pets dander and saliva at an early age and will build an immunity to it. Figures show that out of the 60% of families with premature children that have pets only 6% of the children become allergic to their pets.

Paddy chilling with his ‘baldy’ brothers

Asthma has caused more debate however, recent figures also show that pet ownership does not increase the risk of adults or children becoming asthmatic. Also, asthmatics can have pets. They just follow some simple rules in order to ensure pets are not the cause of any asthmatic flare ups. This we already knew as my husband developed asthma as a child. There are plenty of things to try before re-homing a beloved pet because of asthma such as hoovering often, cleaning hardwood floors, keep pets out of bedrooms, change bed linen frequently, keep pet Well groomed and not allowing the children to change the litter trays. To me this is all common sense and should be done anyway even if you do not have a pet.

It is well documented that Cats can also bring a health benefit to the adults in the home.

• Cats are low maintenance and petting a cat can have a calming effect of adults. This helps ease stress, lessen anxieties and reduce blood pressure.

• Studies show that cat guardians are less likely to suffer from a stroke compared to guardians of other pets.

• The therapeutic benefits extend to both adults and children. In adults, the calming experience of petting a cat releases a hormone called oxytocin which is known for inducing feelings of love and trust. A cat does not judge so allows for a person to speak freely or grieve. Almost like a free therapy session. In children, studies have shown that Cats can help children with autism be less anxious, and calmer.

• Adults also get a boost of their immune system.

• Cat guardians have a 30-40% less chance of having heart disease or a heart attack compared to their non cat guardian companions.

Paddy purring and cuddling into his mummy after I had broken my humerus. I was crying and in a lot of pain and he never left my side.

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l of this in mind, yes I will grieve for the loss of a big part of my family. Paddy taught my boys what the words nice and gentle meant. They would clap him – with supervision of course, and I would repeat the words over and over whilst moving their hands. Now when they come across any furry creature and wish to pet them all I say are those 2 words. Nice and gentle and the boys will make an awww sound and pet gently. My boys can’t speak and don’t understand simple language such as yes, no or stay, yet they know and understand how to be kind to an animal. It was Paddy who taught them that.

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Jess my Aunts German Shepherd looking over the boys whilst they have a bath. She and the boys have a wonderful relationship stemming from what Paddy has taught them.

So in reply to my original question. Do fur babies and premature babies go together? Yes of course they do. Just use common sense, never leave any pet alone with your children and keep your home as clean as you can. All things people already do. Before you rush out and adopt a pet make sure that you have the commitment there that if you become pregnant you will find a way to make it work and keep everyone safe. It is a very doable task. With so many pets in shelters awaiting their furrever home I would always recommend adopting and not shopping. My cats have not only taught my boys social skills but have helped boost their immunity as well as encourage them developmentally. I loved growing up with my furry family and I hope my boys will grow up with the same love and kindness in their hearts.

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I hope you are running free over the rainbow bridge playing and cuddling with your brother Max.

I love you Paddy cat. Thank you for being such a kind and wonderful fur baby. I will miss you always. Big kisses and cuddles. Mum. Xx

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It was this time 3 years ago that my hubby and I announced our very long awaited pregnancy news and for it to be twin news we were just taken aback. I was very much at the stage where I never thought I would be lucky enough to become pregnant with 1 child and here we were announcing 2!

In my short time as a mum I have experienced my fair share of high five Mummy win moments and I have also experienced the epic mummy fails. These are all part of the journey to parenthood. Wins and fails alike should be celebrated pretty much because it shows at least we are trying. Ironically, it’s more likely to be the fails that allow us to bond with other parents with the mantra ‘there is no such thing as a perfect parent’.

On social media pages such as Facebook and Pinterest you will find the perfect parent brigade in their masses telling and showing us all of their Mary Poppins style ideas that they have done with their children already that day and it’s only 10am. Whereas, I’m very lucky if I have fed my boys and changed them out of their pj’s by that time in the morning. 😃 Sometimes though, their ideas just might work for us normal folk.

At the weekend I decided I wanted to do something different for my boys lunch rather than the mundane routine of our norm. I had seen a few different posts about chopping up hot dogs and spiking them with uncooked spaghetti. Well you would never believe it but it actually worked! I did mix in a little tomato ketchup so it wasn’t as dry but my boys loved it. I was met with a chorus of Yums and mmmmm’s as they were eating it. It sounds sad I know but usually with toddlers most of their food ends up on the floor. Not one bite of this simple lunch was spoiled. To say I was Well chuffed is a bit of an understatement. My husband even gave me a high 5! I took it, I didn’t know or care if there was a sarcastic undertone to it. I was and still am delighted.

Now for this one win I have had my share of fails, including the good old initiation of being peed, poohed or vomited on! Just the day before my epic 😃lunch idea the boys and I were attending a fellow twin mums boys birthday party. I was semi-prepared as I had bought the boys their cards presents and even wrapping paper. I’m a gift bag kinda gal but thought to myself ‘no, I’m gonna do it right’! Of course I did leave writing the cards and wrapping the presents until last minute which turns out to be another notch in my fail column. Most twin mums are disappointed if their twins share a birthday card, it personally does t bother me but can see their point. The children may be twins but they are 2 individuals and as such deserve to have their own card, after all they already have to share their birthday with each other. I bought the boys 2 matching cards. I didn’t initially pick up 2 identical cards then thought I’ll get them different cards but have a matching theme. So Both had peppa pig cards. Turns out I should have stuck with the 2 identical cards. We were already running late so no time to nip to shop and correct my mistake. Luckily for me my friend laughed and understood my mistake.

Even in my personal life I have experienced the wins and fails of life. Doesn’t all come down to whether you have kids or not. You can be a numpty whether you are a mum or not. Last week I had one such occasion where it started out a win, quickly turned into a painful fail but then turned itself around into a win again. I thought to myself since I was going back to work I would put on a charcoal face mask and use the charcoal powder to whiten my teeth. I did not know the face mask is only supposed to be used on the t-zone area! So during a live Facebook broadcast I took the mask off and let’s just say I’m lucky I have any eyebrows left! Positive though is my skin looked amazing.

Life is all taken very seriously nowadays. We should celebrate the little things and laugh at the failures. At the end of the day it is through our failures we learn and become a better person. Let me know what wins or fails you have experienced. It might just make one person feel better about their day.

Stay Cool

Scottish Twin Mamma

Xxxxx

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I’m not gonna lie. I always wanted twins. It was always something I felt I would do. Be a twin mum. If you look on social media you will see loads of articles directed towards that woman who also wants twins and it gives what they think is helpful hints and tips on how they think the best way to conceive twins is. FYI, there is no science behind claims that different sexual positions or changes in diet will make you more likely to conceive twins. When a stranger approaches you and starts bombarding you with questions you will inevitably get the same questions just worded differently over and over again. To this day, this has never bothered me but by listening to my twin mum peers it seems it can annoy and upset most mums of twins. So it’s probably best just to avoid them all together.

‘I really hope I have twins one day”

By saying this it’s just like you are saying that having twins is a breeze or a walk in the park. This was something before having my boys I never considered. I did want twins and I knew it would be difficult. It never came from a bad malicious place so I assume when strangers say it their intentions are also good. Consider this though. That stranger you approached in the supermarket has just had the night from hell. She has had to play swapsies with her children all night to attend to the baby with the most needs at that time. She has had no sleep and no help with the constant round robin of feeding, changing nappies, changing clothes due to wetness or sickness, singing lullaby’s to help settle baby to sleep. She realises first thing in the morning that she has ran out of essential groceries so attempts to nip out to shops still wearing her own clothes that had been peed on and vomited over. All she wants is to get in and out of the shop as quickly as she possibly can and then you innocently make this remark. This will make that physically and emotionally tired mum feel like she is failing. It should be easy. Everyone wants twins so it can’t be the hard option. Can’t it? Why am I not finding it easier?

‘I know what you mean. I have 2 kids a year apart and it’s just like having twins!’

I think out of all the passing comments strangers have made to me, this has been the only one which really got my back up. No it bloody Well isn’t ‘just like having twins’. Unless you have had twins then go on to have 2 singletons 1 year apart then you will never know what it is like having twins. Just as I will never know what having 2 children very close in age feels like. Both come with their own set of bonuses and Both come with their own set of negatives. You will never know the heart wrenching feeling of picking one crying starving child over the other crying starving child. You will never know what it is like to try and juggle 2 colicky babies at the one time. You will never know what it is like to be trapped like a prisoner in your own home for weeks on end because when they become mobile it is near physically impossible to take the twins anywhere on your own, as they will inevitably decide to run in 2 opposite directions at the one time and be of an age where they don’t know what stop means or worse, they are an age where they just choose to ignore you. I can’t say one scenario is harder than the other as I haven’t experienced Both, but do you do what? It isn’t a competition to see who the most hard done by mother is. Although some women seem to thrive on competitive agendas. I will never know what it is like to be pregnant whilst caring for a young child, I will never know what it is like to attempt to entertain 2 children who are a year or so apart in development. Maybe as a community of mothers we could try and support each other rather than tear each other down.

Are they natural? / Do Twins run in your family?

Oh dear god! Where to start with this one. I personally don’t have an issue with people asking if twins run in the family but a stranger is pretty much asking you about your sex life and fertility status. The ‘are they natural?’ I always wanted to say ‘no, actually my boys are plastic, but thanks for asking.’ Would you approach a stranger of a singleton and ask if the baby was natural? Or even conceived ‘naturally’? No, you wouldn’t because it would be downright rude. Back in 2015 Elton John called for a boycott of fashion house Dolce & Gabbana after the designers labelled children born via IVF ‘synthetic’. My boys were only around 3 weeks old when this hit the press and to say I was disgusted was an understatement. How dare anyone criticise these miracle babies worldwide. I truly believe the children conceived with the help of fertility treatments are miracles as they most likely would not have been born if it wasn’t for the advances of science. Yet, if it were up to them they would deny millions of people the chance to become families due to them feeling it is synthetic. No pal, I think you will find it is the material you use on the runway that is synthetic, not my children who are very much real flesh and blood.

I have always been very open with family, friends, work colleagues and the odd stranger about my fertility journey but most people are not like me. Most people like to keep their personal business to themselves. So what gives people the right to ask such personal questions? I can understand that twins and higher ordered multiples bring out the curiosity in people, even though there are more multiple births documented now than ever before is partly down to the advances in science and the availability of fertility treatment. However, the rise in multiple births could also to be attributed to older mums. Many women do not have their children now until much later in life, this can be due to many reasons, however, nature likes to throw a curve ball and if your older than 35 you are more likely to conceive twins because your body has produced 2 eggs in the same monthly cycle. In 2006, almost 5% of births in women over the age of 35 were twins and this increases to 20% for women over the age of 45. Comparatively, only 2% of women aged 20-24 had twins without the support of fertility treatments.

“So no more babies for you then?’

As it turns out I personally do not have a choice with this one due to the afore mentioned fertility issues, in saying that, if I could afford private fertility treatment I would go for it. I would love a bigger family. In society nowadays it is assumed if you have 2 children that your automatically done procreating. Especially, if you have 1 boy and 1 girl. Not even a generation ago bigger families were the social norm. My husband is the youngest of 7 kids with both his parents also coming from large families. I don’t know how we got to a point where seeing a family of 3 or more children is now considered large. Who has the right to say how many children any one family should have? Again, I go back to it is no ones damn business other than the couple that is having the family. There is no magic number of children to clock up to to get the perfect family.

Cant believe I actually had to write this one down. I have had this said to me by strangers on more than one occasion as have the majority of my twin mum friends. Now for the rest of my points above I could say the strangers were genuinely well meaning and didn’t intend for their comment or question to come across as malicious but with this one??? How else am I or any other twin mum supposed to take it? It’s the hardest job I will ever do in my life, but it is the most satisfying job in the world. Just when you think you have reached your breaking point and can’t possibly take anymore crying, sleepless nights, double sickness bugs and the like those 2 wee innocent faces will look up at you with all the love they have in the world and it will melt even the coldest of hearts into a big bowl of mush. Just one look can do this to you. You have no idea how many times a tiny smile or hug has brought me back from the brink of despair. These closed minded folk don’t deserve the love and happiness that twins can bring into your life. They don’t have what it takes to be undercover superheroes. 😂😂😂

Stay cool

Scottish Twin Mamma

Xx

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I am by nature a very romantic person. I always dreamed of my big white wedding and having 3 kids. 2 girls 1 boy. I dreamed of everything just short of a white picket fence. Now being a grown up I knew that life isn’t like a romantic movie and we don’t always get everything that we dreamed of, somehow though I always thought that certain aspects of each dream would come true.

I always wanted to spend time getting the nursery ready for my child and having all of my family together for my baby shower. I had visions of leaving the hospital loaded with my gorgeous wee baby, multiple balloons and gift bags that eager and generous family and family had brought with them to visit my cherub. Coming home to a full house decorated with balloons and bunting to celebrate this new tiny life we had brought into the world. As with any mother to be, I also had my birth plan already in my head waiting to discuss it with the midwives. Turns out the universe had other plans for this girl who lived in a romantic bubble. After 10 years of various fertility treatments we finally conceived who would turn out to be our 2 wee miracle babies. After a very complicated pregnancy. The boys were thrown into the world at Just 25 weeks gestation. I always joked that I had to wait 10 years for them but the wee to-rags couldn’t wait 9 months on me. I had to leave the hospital 3 days after their birth with no babies, no car seats, no flowers, no balloons, no gift bags, no full house, no decorations and certainly no celebrating. My heart was broken, I didn’t want to leave my boys behind in the hospital. I wanted them to be with me, I was their mother and they should be with me and my husband. After the boys fight in the NICU they finally came home. Yet still no balloons etc. They didn’t even come home on the same day. It was as if the world had made it its mission to turn everything upside down.

Throughout these months there were many comments made to me and I can guarantee you each and every single comment came from a good place. A place of love and compassion. It’s just as humans our words tend to fail us at times of worry and grief. So either the wrong thing is said or worse. Nothing is said at all.

So I have compiled a list of things that you should never say to a parent who’s child is in the NICU. This list is not exhaustive by any means, if there is anything you feel that should be added then please feel to leave a comment and tell me what else should be there.

‘At least he will be smaller for longer and you get to have a cute newborn for longer than other parents.’ I genuinely didn’t know how to respond to this one. But I could tell you one thing. I’d have given anything to have my boys born at a regular newborn size. That would have meant my boys were born at term and most probably healthy.

‘Oh, they just couldn’t wait to meet their mummy and daddy’ now as I said earlier, I have joked about the 10 years 9 months ratio before but really until you have watched your baby turn blue because they don’t know how to breathe by themselves yet then you will never know how hard it is to hear. They are basically saying your baby chose to fight for his life so he could just nip out and say hello.

“You can’t keep wrapping them up in cotton wool’ Boy I heard this Time and Time again. Especially in the early months when the boys were on oxygen, now it seems to be rearing it’s ugly head again now they are nearly 3. As with any parent I will always put my children first. Yet people seem so shocked when you change plans at the last minute due to the wee ones being sick or refusing to go to a party where there are sick people just in case my boys get ill. If I hear one more Time ‘it’s just a cold’ I swear I will scream. “Just a cold’ could lead to breathing issues such as RSV, which could lead to my boys being incubated with a machine breathing for them, which could lead to death. So no, to a preemie mum, there is no such bloody thing as ‘Just a cold’

“Don’t worry, everything will be ok’ As with most comments on this list, this is said from a good hopeful place. That being said they can also brush aside the very real fears that parents face. Nothing can prepare you for the first time you see your precious little bundle with more tubes coming out of their body than you thought could ever be possible.

‘I take it you are breastfeeding?’ This one was a very sore topic for me. I felt like a big enough failure that I couldn’t get pregnant without help, then I could make it full term, but to then be told I was not allowed to breastfeed after the nurses made such a big deal to tell me how important it was for my sons that they be given breast milk just made me feel so so low and like the biggest failure ever. I thought maybe I wasn’t supposed to be a mother after all. I still feel tremendous guilt over this to this day. I know deep down that a fed baby is best. I also opted for donor breast milk to give my boys the start I felt they deserved. I didn’t want them to be punished for my failures. It will take a very long time, if ever for me to completely forgive myself. So please, don’t ever just assume. Unless you know the circumstances, don’t ever just assume.

“Wow, 1lb 7 and 1lb 11? You must have just sneezed and they popped out? You are so lucky you didn’t have to give to birth to 2 full size babies!’ I still find it difficult to see this comment as anything other than insensitive. Actually, this comment makes me want to scream. WTAF?????

“At least you got to miss that really big uncomfortable stage’ I would have given my right eye to be big sore and uncomfortable to stop my boys from know the pain of needles and tests before they knew the touch and cuddle of their mum.

“At least you get to go home and get a good night sleep.’ You never want to leave your baby in the hospital but sleep? Hell, when or if I ever get a good nights sleep again I will let you know.

“When will the boys be normal and catch up with other kids their age?’ What is normal anyway? How dare you say my boys aren’t normal. Like any child they will do things in their own time. I will love them unconditionally no matter what their developmental age is. There are no crystal ball, NICU babies progress over the years at their own rate. The fact that they are alive and breathing is miracle enough. They will reach their own milestones in their own time.

10.Thank god that is over and done with.’ We are nearly 3 years down the line now and our journey still isn’t over. Many people assume that once baby is home that the NICU is a distant memory. However, many preemie babies are often left with long term health difficulties. Some of these will resolve over time, but many can be life long complications. The boys are at this stage just now. Many people feel they should be just like their peers and I have even been told to my face that the boys aren’t anything special. They are children and all children are special. I agree all children are special but not all children have had to face the uphill battles like my boys so yeah my boys are god damn special. We will be dealing with health issues due to their Prematurity for many more years to come if not forever. Our lives have been changed so much by having the boys and the likelihood is we will need to adapt and change our lives to suit our boys forever. Do you know what? I wouldn’t change the boys for all the tea in China.

Instead maybe say congratulations, celebrate the birth of a new life. Don’t be scared to do this because you fear the wee baby might not make it. As true as it is that not every baby makes it home from the NICU it is important to remember that every baby deserves to be celebrated. If you don’t know what to say, just say that. Don’t stay silent or worse say something that could be deemed as insensitive. Tell your friends you will be there for them whenever they want to talk. Make them a dinner for coming home from the hospital or offer to help with housework. Let them know that they are the most important people in their babies lives.

I wouldn’t wish our NICU journey on our worst enemy. If someone you know is currently going through their own NICU journey have a thought about what I have written above.

Stay Cool.

Scottish Twin Mamma

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Today is a very significant day for parents of premature babies world wide. As with many health issues you can find support groups on social media platforms such as Facebook etc personally I am a member of a few groups aimed towards anxiety, premature birth and multiple birth. It is a well known fact that multiple births are high risk pregnancies and a high percentage end with the babies being born early. Usually the more babies are there, the earlier the babies are born. What isn’t discussed as often is Singleton babies born too soon. According to The World Health Organisation (WHO) there are sub-categories of pre-term birth, based on gestational age.

Of the 1 million preterm babies who die every year it has been reported the 3/4 of these babies could have been saved if they had access to proven and usually inexpensive care, such as warmth, breastfeeding support and basic medical care for breathing difficulties and infections. Just let that sink in. 3/4 million babies could be saved every year. That one statistic is enough to prove raising awareness of preterm birth is essential. By raising awareness we are able to raise funding that can go towards research to prevent as many preterm births as possible. Although, as a preemie mum it can be so so difficult to see all the pictures of tiny babies with breathing tubes fighting for their life in incubators I understand the importance of getting those images and stories out there. If you read blogs or articles that take you through someone’s NICU journey you will find most of the mums state that they had very little knowledge of preterm birth and it’s causes.

My case was a bit different however, I grew up knowing that the miracles of science could save a baby born so early. My older brother was born at 26 weeks gestation in 1977. The doctors didn’t give him a real chance of survival. He weighed less than a bag of sugar. He is now 40 years old with his own family. My poor mum then went into labour with me around the same gestation, however, this time they knew that there was a chance of this happening so she had been monitored very closely throughout her pregnancy. So with some medical interventions I lasted until mum was 30 weeks pregnant. It was always thought that spontaneous preterm labour was not heredity, yet recently WHO have stared there could be a family link.

I have tried to speak about my experiences of preterm birth with my boys in this blog but I have successfully managed to avoid my personal feelings and speak more about the facts. This has been one of my biggest personal demons. I’m like an emu. When life is stressful I put the biggest smile on my face, pretend to the world that everything is A-ok and bury my head along with my problems in the sand. I recently discovered this only works for a certain length of time then all those fears, feelings and anxieties rush to the surface and there is no way to hold it all back. The last few months have been like a living hell and I’m sure my family who are my biggest support network will agree it wasn’t pleasant for them either. I went from being a happy bubbly person to someone who took every tiny thing to heart and would explode in a rage to defend herself when in actual fact I wasn’t being threatened in the slightest. Some studies suggest that up to 71% of NICU mums go on to develop PTSD. Is it any wonder though? The body and mind go through such a massive invasion at childbirth and that is when mum and baby are in good health. Now add in additional stressors such as traumatic birth, premature birth, complications to mum and baby.

So today is National Prematurity Awareness Day. Please take some time to pray for and/or send Well wishes for those babies who are still currently riding that NICU rollercoaster.

Think of the babies born too soon who didn’t get to go home from the neonatal unit.

Think of the babies who fight life threatening illness every winter due to their lungs being damaged from Prematurity.

Think of the babies who due to being born early and fighting for life daily in the early stages are now left with physical, cognitive or learning disabilities.

Think of the parents who fight along side their little warriors praying to take their place and not see their little miracle suffer everyday.

Think. Just think. The fight doesn’t end for many parents and babies when they leave the NICU and often this is a time where the parents need more emotional support than before. The fight can continue for years and even be lifelong.

To all the babies born too soon, I salute you.

Stay Cool.

Scottish Twin Mamma.

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Today is a very significant day for parents of premature babies world wide. As with many health issues you can find support groups on social media platforms such as Facebook etc personally I am a member of a few groups aimed towards anxiety, premature birth and multiple birth. It is a well known fact that multiple births are high risk pregnancies and a high percentage end with the babies being born early. Usually the more babies are there, the earlier the babies are born. What isn’t discussed as often is Singleton babies born too soon. According to The World Health Organisation (WHO) there are sub-categories of pre-term birth, based on gestational age.

Of the 1 million preterm babies who die every year it has been reported the 3/4 of these babies could have been saved if they had access to proven and usually inexpensive care, such as warmth, breastfeeding support and basic medical care for breathing difficulties and infections. Just let that sink in. 3/4 million babies could be saved every year. That one statistic is enough to prove raising awareness of preterm birth is essential. By raising awareness we are able to raise funding that can go towards research to prevent as many preterm births as possible. Although, as a preemie mum it can be so so difficult to see all the pictures of tiny babies with breathing tubes fighting for their life in incubators I understand the importance of getting those images and stories out there. If you read blogs or articles that take you through someone’s NICU journey you will find most of the mums state that they had very little knowledge of preterm birth and it’s causes.

My case was a bit different however, I grew up knowing that the miracles of science could save a baby born so early. My older brother was born at 26 weeks gestation in 1977. The doctors didn’t give him a real chance of survival. He weighed less than a bag of sugar. He is now 40 years old with his own family. My poor mum then went into labour with me around the same gestation, however, this time they knew that there was a chance of this happening so she had been monitored very closely throughout her pregnancy. So with some medical interventions I lasted until mum was 30 weeks pregnant. It was always thought that spontaneous preterm labour was not heredity, yet recently WHO have stared there could be a family link.

I have tried to speak about my experiences of preterm birth with my boys in this blog but I have successfully managed to avoid my personal feelings and speak more about the facts. This has been one of my biggest personal demons. I’m like an emu. When life is stressful I put the biggest smile on my face, pretend to the world that everything is A-ok and bury my head along with my problems in the sand. I recently discovered this only works for a certain length of time then all those fears, feelings and anxieties rush to the surface and there is no way to hold it all back. The last few months have been like a living hell and I’m sure my family who are my biggest support network will agree it wasn’t pleasant for them either. I went from being a happy bubbly person to someone who took every tiny thing to heart and would explode in a rage to defend herself when in actual fact I wasn’t being threatened in the slightest. Some studies suggest that up to 71% of NICU mums go on to develop PTSD. Is it any wonder though? The body and mind go through such a massive invasion at childbirth and that is when mum and baby are in good health. Now add in additional stressors such as traumatic birth, premature birth, complications to mum and baby.

So today is National Prematurity Awareness Day. Please take some time to pray for and/or send Well wishes for those babies who are still currently riding that NICU rollercoaster.

Think of the babies born too soon who didn’t get to go home from the neonatal unit.

Think of the babies who fight life threatening illness every winter due to their lungs being damaged from Prematurity.

Think of the babies who due to being born early and fighting for life daily in the early stages are now left with physical, cognitive or learning disabilities.

Think of the parents who fight along side their little warriors praying to take their place and not see their little miracle suffer everyday.

Think. Just think. The fight doesn’t end for many parents and babies when they leave the NICU and often this is a time where the parents need more emotional support than before. The fight can continue for years and even be lifelong.

To all the babies born too soon, I salute you.

Stay Cool.

Scottish Twin Mamma.

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We are coming ever closer to a day that is very close to my heart. National Prematurity Day 17th November 2017. However, in the UK we raise awareness the whole month through. The charity Bliss ( Twitter – @blisscharity ) are this year focusing on Prematurity and what it means to you.

With 1 in 10 babies being born premature worldwide we need people to know what obstacles babies and parents come across each and every single day. Giving birth to a preemie baby has a massive ripple effect that’s not just felt by parents but siblings grandparents friends and even work colleagues. In the UK alone 95,000 babies are born premature or sick. Being born far too soon means the baby is at higher risk of longterm health problems such as Cerebral Palsy and even at a higher risk of requiring special education at school. This fact is particularly true for my boys just now. Logan was stuck on a ventilator and no matter what the medical professionals attempted they couldn’t wean him off it. Everyday spent on a ventilator damaged his lungs further and brought up more health risks. The consultant spoke to my husband and I about giving Logan steroids in order to get him off his vent. Seems a logical solution – go for the treatment that will take away the ventilator, This came with a massive but though. The steroid treatment meant that Logan would be at higher risk of developing cerebral palsy, this was magnified by the fact he had suffered a brain bleed at birth and was at risk of cerebral palsy due to his Prematurity anyway. The discussion we had that night when we got home was just awful. We felt like we were trapped between the devil and the deep blue sea. In any event, we decided to be proactive, charge ahead and deal with the consequences as or if they arose. Logan is now 2 years and 9 months old. This is where we are seeing his cognitive development is not where it should be, even giving him grace for his Prematurity he is no where close. So this has started the discussion between his health visitor, speech therapist and nursery personnel that they feel he may be better suited to a quieter, smaller learning environment with specialist teachers. This is not to say he won’t ever catch up it is just to give him the best chance to catch up and attend a mainstream primary school. I was also worried that even though he was walking that he may have a milder level of cerebral palsy. He walks with his arms flapping about in the air with no purpose. He seems to have hyper mobile joints especially his elbows and shoulders. He also a very clumsy boy and will fall over very big obvious obstacles. The health visitor seems to think this is due to a sensory perception disorder (SPD). So life is very much up in the air with regards to the boys cognitive abilities. All I know is I have a very supportive family and no matter the outcome those 2 little miracle lion cubs will be fully supported and loved more than the world by everyone.

On our first day in the NICU the nurse looking after my boys explained that this is day one of a rollercoaster journey. Whether your journey is days, weeks or months you will be pushed to every physical and emotional limit you have. Just as you feel you couldn’t possibly deal with anymore along comes another dip. Yet everyday you get up, get ready and sit by the side of the incubator of the most precious wee warrior you know. Just knowing that they are fighting hard is what gives you the strength to carry on. This little person who you made and brought into this world yet haven’t been allowed to touch never mind give a cuddle is what gives you the courage you need to continue on.

We spent a heartbreaking 118 days sitting Vigil at the bedside of our little lion cubs. Willing them on, celebrating every gram of weight gained and every ml of milk taken, until we were given the news that we could eventually be a family together at home. I remember rooming in with my boys and being terrified. Even though we were still in hospital I was their sole care giver. My husband was still working away through all of this with the hope of taking his paternity leave when the boys finally made it home. It was like a military style operation organising feeds, medications, nappy changes and oxygen and that was for just one baby never mind the two I actually had.

The thing I didn’t realise is that nearly 3 years later the rollercoaster would still be going up down and roundabout. I thought that ended once you left the NICU. Nope. It certainly doesn’t.

I have many many stories of our time in nicu but for now I will leave it at that. This has taken me quite a few days to write as even though a lot of Time has passed it is still very raw in my heart and I get upset thinking of my wee guys being so ill.

Please feel free to share your experiences of Prematurity or your child being born unwell with me. Together we can bring awareness to an issue no one thinks about unless it happens to them. We need to highlight the issues and get funding for research so other parents and babies don’t need to go through what we have experienced. Even though our journey was man extremely difficult one, my family had a happy outcome. Unfortunately, not every baby who is born early or unwell leaves the NICU. Some babies fight the good fight but the angels take them to a better place than this cruel world. There are also some babies who get to leave the NICU, go home and then due to medical complications of Prematurity become very unwell and pass away months or even years later.

Please keep those babies and parents in your hearts and prayers. Light a candle for them on the 17th November and raise awareness of a cause very close to my heart.

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Well on Thursday my wee cherubs turned 1 year old. I still can’t believe how far they have came and what a horrible start to life my wee boys had.

The day consisted of my hubby and I saying things like “oh this time last year this was happening” etc The memories are so vivid and raw that it doesn’t allow your brain to compute it was 12 months ago I’ll start by telling you all how this year went before delving into last years antics

Hubby had taken the day off so we woke up as a family All 4 of us and it was lovely We decided to let the boys still go to nursery as they love it so much They had a wee party with their pals had cake and were sung to whilst hubby and I picked up balloons we had ordered and organised the house I’ve had it in my head for a while that I wanted them to have a build bear made just for them for their first birthday Keep in mind no one mentioned I’d have to remortgage the house to pay for it Jeez However. It was worth every penny to see the wonder of their faces to see the fluff machine turn and tumble All 4 of us kissed each heart to give each bear life It was amazing The staff couldn’t have been nicer if they tried and tbh they helped make the whole experience magical They boys even got a couple of pound from an elderly couple we met in a lift for their wee banks As soon as the couple heard their story they were straight in their pockets Which I found very sweet and kind

We had decided to keep Thursday just for us As both sets of grandparents were having a birthday tea at the weekend and I feel this was the best decision we have made in a long time We have had to share our boys so much since they have been born that it felt good to be selfish and keep them to ourselves Don’t think the grandparents agreed though

So a quick run down of this time last year pretty much went as follows:

I had spent the best part of 5 weeks in hospital with only a day here and there home I was missing my husband and my fur babies something terrible so to say I wasn’t in the best of moods or mindset was an understatement I was supposed to be going home on the 25th and was looking forward to it I think I was in denial that the boys would arrive early as I had been in and out of labour with massive bleeding pretty much since I turned 20 weeks pregnant so when I woke up at 5am with tightening and the tiniest bit of bleeding I had decided I wasn’t going to tell the midwives I did however, tell my husband who got pretty irate with me demanding I tell them About 10 minutes after coming off phone a midwife came into my room just to check on me i decided to tell her but it turns out she already knew My sneaky husband had basically told on me whilst waiting on the doctor to review me the tightening got stronger and regular so I was whipped back into the labour room where my twin incubators where still set up from the day before whe I was there Not gonna lie I still thought this was all extreme as I was convinced it would stop and I would be back on main ward within a few hours When I was speaking to hubby though I had a strong feeling I wanted him there He also wanted to be with me Now to put it into perspective my hubby still went to work everyday during this period even though he always offered to be with me However, for some unknown reason he wasn’t going to take go to work as an answer and I really wanted him with me The doctor decided against an internal exam as this can bring labour on so I was monitored very closely I remember asking for something for pain or even gas and air for the now extremely sore tightenings I was given diamorphine bit refused gas and air as I wasn’t having “real” contractions only tightenings

At 12 Monday the consultant decided we needed to know what was going on down below as everything was becoming scarily regular The senior doctor on her service set up for exam She raised the bed and didn’t even touch me just peeked and jumped so high into air that she sent the examination trolley across the room If I hadn’t been so scared I would’ve found this funny I asked if everything was OK Dumb question as I knew by her reaction that it wasn’t The consultant finished the exam informing me I was 5 cm dilated and past the point of no return No matter what at least one of my babies where coming today The first thing I thought was thank god those were real contractions as I was freaking out thinking or dreading what real ones would be like as these “tightenings” were so bloody painful

At this point I experienced a wash of emotions from thank god hubby was here and made me tell the midwives the truth to mind numbing fear as they were too early to excitement that I was going to meet my gorgeous babies We didn’t know the sex of the babies and I had convinced myself that it was a boy and a girl. Hubby phoned my mum as I wanted her at the birth and phoned his parents so all the right people knew what was happening At this point all the parishioners from our chapel had skint knees from praying so much for these precious bundles and I know my mother in law stepped this up a few gears when she knew of their imminent arrival When my mum arrived I was really shocked at how calm she was I didn’t find out til later she had phoned my dad and aunt and cried all the way to the hospital from work so that it was out her system in a sense so she could be strong for me

My poor mum knew better than anyone what I was going through She had lost at baby at 26 weeks then had my brother at 26 weeks then had me at 30 weeks She knew the fear pain and excitement more than anyone, keep in mind my babies were 25 weeks – I always have to go one better 🙂

By 4pm I was fully dilated and the doctor ordered me very seriously not to push!’ Eh what?? That’s not an easy task At this point she explained that if baby 2 doesn’t progress on their own she would leave them meaning I could’ve had twins born on separate days Now that would be a story At 1711 on 25/02/15 Lewis came flying out into this world at the exact moment when it was only hubs mum and 1 very special midwife who we have since became friends with (some bonds cannot be broken) the emergency buzzer was pressed as this tiny 1lb 7oz purple baby lay on the bed not moving With a split second the room was filled with over 10 people Each baby had their own team of neonatologists and I had my own team of midwives It was a very busy room As the team work on Lewis I became obsessed that I didn’t hear him cry but I was told he was too young and the team had intubated him straight away I was scanned to see what baby 2 was doing and he was breech with no signs of moving However, at 1740 Logan made his appearance into the world after a good few pushes and puffs of gas and air – magic stuff btw The first thing I said apparently was ok let’s do this I’m ready for my girl to come now Hubby went grey in case their was a third one hiding in there Lol Again Logan lay on the bed lifeless for a nanosecond before his 1lb 11oz purple body was whipped away by the docs

What I didn’t realise at the time was my dad and brother had been restlessly pacing the floor of the day room so when the boys left my room they got to see them in their travel incubators on route to the nicu like something out of a 50’s film Even at the time the funny part of this wasn’t lost on me

just writing all of this down is really draining on me Next post I promise to tell the rest of that day’s shenanigans but just now I’m spent It’s like I’m living it for real all over again and I have this panicked feeling in my chest

I know it’s daft as both boys are in their cot beside me snoring away happy and healthy but I still hear the machines and feel the fear

Til next post Stay cool

Scottish Twin Mamma

xxxx

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Well the above picture showed up on my memories notification from Facebook. I swear it was like taking a swift kick to the gut, falling down and without chance of catching my breath taking another hard kick.

I remember very very clearly this time last year when I had started with what I called tightenings across my belly. The fear of what it could mean swept through me The 5 weeks previous to this I had been in and out of hospital so much that I was lucky if I got to spend 2 solid nights in my own bed. Most mothers to be have a grab bag ready for when their little one arrives but I had a grab bag constantly ready for when I had to go to triage at the local maternity hospital for the complications I was experiencing. TMI coming up but 5 days before my boys were born I passed tissue that could only be explained as looking like chicken skin. Even the nurse inside me took the boak looking st it. My poor wee dad took me up to hospital knowing very well what pathological delights I kept in my bag. After an internal I was told it was ok to go home. They would send the tissue away for biopsy but they thought it was a fibroid I had passed. Keep in mind 2 different consultants came in for a peek and were left flummoxed as to what this tissue could be. I think this worried me more than settled me.

So it’s Friday, 20/2/15 and I’m on my way home. The tightenings were still happening and felt more like a period cramp at this point. I wasn’t too concerned by this as every time I had an internal examination I felt this level of discomfort for a few hours or so after. However, by 1am on the 21/2/15 I was pretty much in denial that this could be the sign of early labour. By 8am that day my hubby wanted to take me to triage again. I was adamant I wasn’t going in again. I had only just got home. My family were exhausted from the visiting hours and I really missed my cats. I know that sounds stupid on the grand scale of things but I am literally the crazy cat lady and I love my furry boys so much. I knew when babies came along the cats wouldn’t be able to sleep in our room with us anymore as it just wouldn’t be safe. Still made me sad though. It wasn’t until maybe about 10am when my hubs pointed out to brace myself as I was just about to get another bad pain that I realised they were coming with some regularity as of course said pain started. After this I started timing between the tightenings – told you I was in denial so they weren’t contractions but simply tightenings. As my hubby had rightly said they were coming 10 mins apart. I still refused point blank to go back to hospital yet again. Over the course of the Saturday they spaced out then would go back to 10 mins. By the Sunday my husband was losing his mind and quite point blankly said I could go to hospital of my own accord or he was gonna pick me up out me over his shoulder and carry me to the hospital. I could tell by his eyes he was serious so I reluctantly gave in stating that if they keep me in again not only was I not speaking to him but we were done. Finished. Getting a divorce – ok so maybe I wasn’t my most rational at this point.

Of of course they kept me in, discovered I was 1 dilated and my cervix had shortened. They said I wasn’t in labour so not to get upset but as a precaution they were going to let the neonatal icu know what was happening and they immediately moved me into the labour room that had those 2 beasts in it that you see above. They even had Twin 1 and Twin 2 written on them. Eh thanks very much for freaking me the hell out at the very same time you are telling me to stay nice and calm. They started me on magnesium sulphate drip which for the first 15 mins during the bolus dose you literally feel like you are dying. It’s also a drip that is given over 24 hours so it’s no easy feat. Of course I received the steroid course again to strengthen babies lungs. I was first given this injection when I was only 23 weeks pregnant. I had a Russian doctor tell me there was no point to it as babies weren’t viable – please note I HATE that word and that the babies would simply die. From that moment on I not onlyhated the word viable but I hated that bitch. I realise for some of you this may sound extreme but at that time nicu was full so they were looking to transfer me to Dundee. I live in glasgow which is hundreds of miles away. Come to think of it 1 year on I still have a strong dislike if not hate for this woman but don’t worry the next day I reported her lack of bedside manner and I asked that she no longer took to do with any of my care.

So to say the picture above brings back loads of memories and not of the good kind is a massive understatement.

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A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now.